Phonograph turntable spindle



A. D B

. URT

PHONO GRAPH TURNTABLE SPINDLE Filed NW 23' 1G46 Patented Dec. 25, 1951 UNITED STAT erica Alexander D. Burt, Haddon Heights, N. J., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application November 23, 1946, Serial No. 711,983

16 Claims.

This invention relates to phonograph turntable spindles, and more particularly to spindles for those drop type automatic phonographs in which the unplayed records of a stack are supported adjacent their centers upon a shoulder on the spindle and adjacent their peripheries upon a supporting member at one side of the turntable.

In phonographs of this type, the spindles are arranged with a stack detaining member above the record supporting shoulder for holding back all of the records of the stack except the lowermost one while the lowermost record is being shifted laterally olf of the supporting shoulder on the spindle to free it from the stack so that it can slide down along the spindle to the turntable. Since theV stack detaining member is oiset with respect to the body of the spindle, a problem is presented When the played records are to be removed from the turntable. As one solution for this problem, it has been proposed to make the spindle removable from the turn table so that, When the played records are to be removed, the spindle is rst withdrawn, after which the records can be lifted freely. However, there are a number of objections to the use of a removable spindle. It has also been proposed to arrange the stack detaining member in a manner such that it will yield in response to pressure applied by the played records as they are raised from the turntable. As constructed heretofore, however, spindles of this type have not been found altogether suitable.`

The primary object of my present invention is to provide an improved phonograph turntable L spindle for the form of drop type phonographs indicated above which will be free from theobjections found in similar, prior art spindles.

More particularly, it is an object of my present invention to provide an improved phonograph turntable spindle for drop type, automatic phonographs which may be mounted in a xed position concentric with the turntable and which need not be removed to enable the ready removal of the played records.

vAnother object of my present invention is to provide an improved phonograph turntable spindle as aforesaid which will incorporate a detaining member for the unplayed records of the stack but which will, nevertheless, permit free and easy removal alsoof the played records along the entire length of the spindle notwithstanding suchv detaining member.

Still another object of my present invention isto provide an improved phonographturntable 2 f, spindle of the type set forth above which will permit easy and ready removal of played records from the' turntable even though there may still be some unplayed records remaining in the stack, Without rst having to remove the latter records as is necessary in most prior. art spindles of the type under consideration.

A further object of my present-invention is to provide an improved phonograph turntable spindle as aforesaid which will not injure the records either during the transference thereof from the stack to the turntableY or during removal thereof from the turntable.

Still a further object of my present invention is to provide an improved phonograph turntable spindle as aforesaid which is neat in appearance and which has the appearance of being made of a single, unitary part.

A still further object of my present invention is to provide an improved phonograph turntable spindle as above set forth which Will not cause the records to catch or bind in any way either during discharge thereof from'the stack to the turntable, or removal thereof from the turntable.

It is also an object of my present invention to provide an improved phonograph turntable spindle as above set forth which is very simple in construction, which can be easily fabricated, which is economical in cost, and which is highlyeicient in use.

In accordance with my .present invention, I form the spindle with a shank portion which is adapted to be mounted in fixed, concentric relation with the turntable and which is provided with a record supporting shoulder in .which the lowermost record of a stack of unplayed records can rest. The spindle is also provided with a second portion which extends upwardly from the shank portion above the shoulder and in offset relation thereto. This upwardly extending portion of the spindle is formed with a longitudinal slot in which is slidably mounted a plate to which is secured a cylindrical sleeve having an outside diameter somewhat smaller than the diameter of the center holes of conventional disc records whereby this cylindrical sleeve presents 'a continuous, cylindrical surface to the record center hole. The aforementioned plate is formed with one or more guide slots which are angularly related to the spindle shoulder, and a guide pin' extends through the slot in the upwardly extending portion of the spindle and the slot in the plate in a direction normal to these slots.

The tubular, cylindrical sleeve and its supporting plate may be termed the head of. the spindie. Normally, this head occupies a position eccentric to the record supporting shoulder of the spindle and, in this position, its lower end is spaced from the spindle shoulder a distance somewhat greater than the thickness of a conventional disc record. Thus, the lowermost record of a stack of unplayed records threaded on the spindle head 'is-free to be moved laterally o of the spindle shoulder in well known manner thereby to be released from the stack so that it can drop down along the spindle shank toward the turntable. The guide slots in the aforementioned plate are angularly related to the spindle shoulder and are so arranged that, when a record is raised from the turntablel along the spindle shank into engagement with the lower end of the spindle head, the rising record will force the head upwardly and, by reason of the inclined slot or slots in the aforementioned plate, the head will be simultaneously forced over into a position concentric withl the spindle shoulder. Thus, the rising record canbe moved freely along the entire llength of `the spindle and can be removedwtherefrom without difficulty. This is Itrue regardless of vwhether there are any unplayed `records stillremaininginthe stack.A If such be the case, the unplayed vrecords are also shiited laterally as thespindle head is moved over from its eccentric position to its concentric position in relation to the spindle shoulder.

Thenovelieatures oi my invention, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will better be understood from the i'ollowing descrip- .tionfof '.twcuY embodiments thereof, when. read in connection with theaccompanying drawing in which Y Avfligure l is aside. elevation, partly in section, of a phonograph embodying one form of spindle constructed'in accordancewith my present invention,

ffFigure 2isY an enlarged'view, partly in section, '0f/the head. portion kof the spindle of Figure l,

-Figure Sis a fragmentary view similar to Figure 1- but showing'the head of the .spindle in the position which' itfassumes when records are being removed from the spindle,

'Figureiiisza sectional view taken on the line IV-IV- ofFigure' 2, i

Figure-5 isi a top plan .view of the spindleWith the head removed,

Figure 6 is a viewA corresponding to Figure 2 but showing another 'form of. spindle `in accordance ywith .myV present. invention with. the `head in record'detaining position, and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6A but :showing .the spindle-head in the position' which it occupiesV when records are being. removed from the spindle.

i Referring' more. particularly-to the drawing wherein similar" reference characters designate correspor'rdingv parts throughout, there is vshown ai spindle havinga 'shank portion I formed with a-fshould'er 3 on* which the lowerrnost vrecord of astack of records 5' may rest. The spindle is also formed with-'an' upwardly iextending portion T which is'foifset relative to the'shank portion I and which" extends upwardly from the shoulder 3. The sh'anklportion l is adaptedV to be arranged ina xed or stationary position concentrically with a turntable 6 on which the records 5 rest during playing. The unplayed records of the stack are supported above the turntable 6 adjacent their center holes upon the spindle shoulder 3' and. adjacent their'peripheries by a suitable supportingmember 8.

vseen from Figures 2, Sand 7, the slots I-I terminating in vertical slot portions lia. The spindle extension 'I carries a plurality of guide pins I9 corresponding in number to the number of slots Il, thepins I9 extending through the extension including its slot I3. and their associated slots 'A tubular, preferably cylindrical sleeve 2i is mounted on the plate I5 and conceals the plate I5 from view, as isevident from Figures 1 and 3.

The spindle extension 1 is, of course, also concealed-within the tubular member 2|. A cap 23 is fitted into the upperL end of the sleeve 2| and is; providedv at its lower Iend with a transverse slot 25 in which theupper end of the plate -I5 is received. AA diametrically extending pin 21 locks theplate I5, the sleeve 21,. and the cap 23 together into' an integral unit.

The -head of the spindle constitutedby the sleeve 2|, its cap 23 andV the plate I5 normally occupies a relatively lower position, under the influence of gravity, [in -which it is eccentric to .the shoulder 3 and in which thevlower end of the Isleeve 2l rests on the-gauge step .9. This-gauge step has a height which is just somewhat greater rthan the thickness of a'conventional disk record but less than the thickness of two such records. Consequently. -when a .stack of records 5 is threaded? on the :spindle hea-d, the lowerrnost record of the `stack rests on the shoulder 3 and is free to be moved laterally oilv off the shoulderV 3 loy`r a suitable slide 29 on the support 8 when the slide is moved, in well known manner, in the direction of the-appended arrow. The released record then becomes :free to slide down along the spindle shank I onto the turntable 6 or onto the records which have, previously dropped thereonto. The outside diameter of the sleeve 2I is preferably just slightly less than the diameter of the center holesv 5a of standard records,- and since the lower end of thesleeve 2I extends into the center hole of the Asecond from the' lowest record of the stack, as shown in Figure 2 it is apparent that-a1l except thelowermost. record will be detained: by :the vspindle head while the lowermost record is being released. The .cylindrical surface of 'the-sleeve 2l presents-a continuous, fully engaging surfacefor the record center holes, thereby greatly reducing danger of chipping. or other damage to the 'records at their center holes. In practice, the` outerdiameter of the sleeve ZI is preferably of such dimension that the sleeve substantially nlls the `record 4center holes, the space between the center holes and the sleeve 2l being shown exaggerated somewhat in the drawings merely for the sake of clearness.

When it is desired; to remove the played records from the turntable, it is merely necessary to raise them vupalong the shank portion I until theupper'most oneof these records .engages the lower 'end ory the sleeve 2|. Continued upward movement of the rising recordl then causes the spindle head rst to be raised verticallyv somewhat kas longV as. the .vertical slot portions Hd are in :engagement with the: pins I9 and then, when the inclined portions of the slots I1 reach thel'pinsl I9, `the head ismOVedlaterally over to a.. position-iconcentric with the. shoulder 3," as

shown in Figure 3, from its normally eccentric position of Figure 2. The inclined shoulder may assist in this lateral movementJ of the spindle head. It is apparent, therefore, that the records can be removed freely along the entire length of the spindle without appreciable obstruction. As soon as the records have been removed the head will, of course, drop back down onto the gauge step 9 under the influence of gravity in the modification of Figures 1 to 5. The gauge step 9 can be machined accurately so that the required distance between the lower end of the sleeve 2| and the shoulder 3 can always be maintained.

In the modification of my invention shown in Figures 6 and '1, the plate l5 is formed with lateral projections 33 which are received in openings 35 in the sleeve 2|. To fit the sleeve 2| onto the plate I 5, the sleeve may be compressed somewhat into oval shape in cross section until its openings 35 are brought opposite the projections 33 whereupon pressure is removed from the sleeve to permit it spring back into its original shape. In this way, the sleeve 2| becomes locked to the plate |5. The cap 23 is force t into the top of the sleeve 2|, and a tension spring 31 is connected at one end to a pin 39 on the cap 23 and at its other end to a pin 4| on the upper end of the spindle extension 1. Thus, reliance may not only be had upon gravity but also upon the spring 31 to bi-as the. spindle head to and hold it in its lower, normal, eccentric position on the gauge step 9, as seen from Figure 6. When the played records are brought into engagement with the lower end of the spindle head during removal thereof, these records will force the head upwardly and laterally to its raised, concentric position relative to the shoulder 3, as shown in Figure 7, against the action of the spring 31. As soon as the records have been removed from the spindle head, the spring 31 will pull the head back down into its eccentric position of Figure 6.

From the foregoing description, it will undoubtedly be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have provided an improved spindle for drop type record changers which is free from many objections found in similar, prior art spindles. Although I have shown and described two embodiments of my present invention, it will undoubtedly be apparent to those skilled in the art that many other modifications thereof, as well as variations in those described above, are possible. I therefore desire that the foregoing shall be considered merely as illustrative and not as limiting.

I claim as my invention:

1. A turntable spindle for automatic phonographs which comprises a shank adapted to be mounted in concentric relation with a turntable and having a shoulder thereon, an extension beyond said shoulder, a head receiving said extension being movable laterally to and longitudinally along said extension, said head terminating at a point spaced from said shoulder a distance somewhat greater than the thickness of a record to be played, and cooperative means in said extensionand said head for guiding said head laterally to and longitudinally along said extension to and from a first position nearest said shoulder eccentric thereto and a second position farthest from said shoulder concentric therewith, said head being of suitable length to receive a stack of unplayed records, an end one of which records may rest against said shoulder when said head is in said first position and which may be `moved laterally off said shoulder to slide along said shank while said head prevents lateral 6 movement of the other records of the stack, said cooperative means permitting said head to `be moved to said second position when a record Ato be removed engages said head, whereby movement of such record along the entire length of said spindle for removal thereof from said spindle is accomplished.

2. A turntable spindle according to claim 1 characterized in that said head comprises a cylindrical member.

3. A turntable spindle according to claim 1 characterized in that said head -includes a member having a cylindrical surface which is presented to the records of said stack at their respective center holes. 1

4. A turntable spindle according to claim 1 characterized in that said extension includes means for gauging said distance between said shoulder and the adjacent end of said head whensaid head is in its said first position.

5.4 A turntable spindle for automatic Phonographs which comprises a shank portion adapted to be mounted in concentric relation with the turntable, said sh-ank portion having a record supporting shoulder thereon, a second portion extending upwardly from said shank portion above said shoulder, a substantially hollow head receiving said second portion, whereby said head is capable of movement laterally and longitudinally with respect to said second portion, and cooperating means in said head and said second portion for guiding said head to and from a first position eccentric to said shoulder and a second position concentric therewith, said head being normally biased to said rst position and being adapted to receive a stack of unplayed records the lowermost one of which may rest on said shoulder when said head is in said first posi--v tion, and means spacing the lower end of said head from said shoulder a distance somewhat greater than the thickness of a record when said head is in said rst position whereby said lowermost record is free to be moved laterally olf of said shoulder to enable it to slide down along said shank portion toward said turntable while said head prevents lateral movement of the re-` maining records of the stack, and said head be-.-

ing movable to said second position when engaged by a record raised along said shank portion into engagement therewith to thereby permit move-'- ment of said last named record along the entire length of said spindle for removal thereof fromsaid spindle.

6. A turntable spindle according to claim 5 characterized in that said head includes a tubular member having a -cylindrical outer surface which is presented to the records of said stack at their respective center holes.

7. A turntable spindle according to claim 5 characterized in that said head includes a tubular member having a cylindrical outer surface which is presented to the recordsof said stack at their respective center holes, and characterized further in that the outer diameter of said tubular member is of such dimension that said member substantially lls said center holes.

8. A turntable spindle according to claim 5 characterized by the addition of spring means? connecting said second spindle portion and said head, said spring means normally holding said head in its said first position. p

9. A turntable spindle for automatic phonographs which comprises a shank portion adapted to be mounted in concentric relation with the turntable, said shank portion having a record supporting shoulder thereon; asecond portion ex- :tendingnpwar'diy zfrom rsaid'. shank portion. above .'s'aid;y :shoulder: :andm having a. longitudinal slot thereimnanda head movably mounted on said second portion .for longitudinal. movement along said'secondportion to and :from a rst position eccentric to said shoulder and a second position concentric therewith, said. head comprising a -plate slidably carried in said slot andv a .tubular sleeve secured to said plate, said head being normally-biased .to said .iirst position .and being vadaptedato receive a stack of. unplayed .records the: lowermostone vof which 'may rest on said shoulder v/hen` said head -is in saidiirst position, said sleeve having a'cylindricalf surface which is .presented-to the vrecords of said stack at their respectivel center holes, means spacing. the lower 2end of saidhead from said shoulder a distance .somewhat greater than the thickness of a record when said headl is .in said .iirst position vwhereby said'llowermost record is free to be movedlaterally-oli of; said rshoulder to enable Ait to slide down along said shank -portion toward said turntablehwhile saidhead prevents lateral movement of. the remaining records` of the stack, and said headybeing movable to said second position when engaged.' by a .record raised along said shank portion into. engagement therewith to ,thereby permit Vmovement of said last named record Yalong-the entire length of saidxspindle for `re moval .thereof from said spindle.

10, A turntable spindle for automatic phonographs which comprises a shank portion adapted to be mounted in concentric relation with the turntable, .said-shank portion. having. a record supporting shoulder thereon, a second portion extending .-upwardly from said shank portion above said shoulder and having a longitudinal slotV therein, and a head movably mounted on said second portion for longitudinal movement along .said .second portion to and froma first position eccentric .from said shoulder and a second position...concentric therewith,.said head comprisingfa ,plate slidably carried in said slot and a ,tubular sleevevsecured to said plate, said plate having a `guide slot therein in register with said firstnamed slot, and a guide pin on said second spindle portion which extends through both said slots for .guiding the movement of `said head from one to the other of its said rst andv second positions, saidhead being normally biased tov said first position being adapted to receive a stack of unplayed records the lowermost one of which may rest on said shoulder when said head is in said. iirst position, means spacing the lower end of saidhead from said shoulder a distance somewhat greater than the thickness of a record when said head is in said first position whereby said lowermost record is free to be moved laterally oifsof said shoulder. to enable it to slide down alongsaid shank portion toward said turntable while said head prevents lateral movement of the ,remaining records of the stack, and said head being movable to said second position when engaged bya record raised along said shank portion into engagement therewith to thereby permitmovement of said last named record along the entire length of said spindle for removal thereof from saidspindle.

1l. A turntable spindle for automatic phonographs which comprises a shank portion adapted to be .mounted in concentric relation with the turntable, said shank portion having a record supporting shoulder thereon, a second portion extending upwardly from'said shank. portion .above saidA eshoulder fand. having a "longitudinal slot.;therein,; and a. head movably vrmounted' on `said:seccndportion for longitudinal movement along-saidsecond portion to and from a rstpositioneccentric from said yshoulder and a second position concentric therewith, said .head

comprising a plate slidably carried in vsaidslot anda -ltubular sleeve. secured to said-plate, said platehaving aj 'guide' slot .therein in register with saidfiirst 4named slot, a guide pin on said `second portion which :extends through bothsaid slots for guiding the movement of said head from. one to the other of its iirst and second positions, said head' being .normally biased to said iirst'- posi- -tion andfbeing adapted-to receive astack of unplayed records the lowermost one of which may rest on `said shoulder when `said head `is .in `said first position, means spacing the lower end of said-head'irom said shoulder a distance somewhat greater vthan the thickness of a record when said head is insaid rst position whereby `'said lowermost record is :free to 'beimoved- Ilaterally oft of said shoulder to Aenable. it to. slide down along said :shank portion toward `said turntable while .said head prevents lateral movement of the remaining records of the stack, a portion of said guide slotl being inclined relativek to..said shoulder in a direction such that, whensaidhead is enga-ged by the record raisedY alongs'aid'` shank portion-said Aguide slotl and said guide ipin will Ycooperate to permitsaid headto be raised relativeto-'said shoulder while simultaneously causing Vsaidhead to movefrom .its said first position to `its said second position rin responsev to the raised :record whereby. to cleary thepath forsaid record and permitmovement thereof'r along the entire-length. of said spindle for. removalv ofthe raised record from said spindle.

12. A turntable spindle for an automatic phonograph Vwhich comprises. a shank. adapted lto be mounted in vconcentric-relation with theturntable, said shank 'havingA a shoulder thereon adapted .to support astack of records and normally enga-ge the lowermost record of 'said stack, an. extension beyond said shoulder, arsubstantially hollow head 1 receiving said extension, whereby said head ismovable laterally to and longitudinally zalcng said extension, said head being' adapted to normallylalignV and retain-l a stack ci Vrecords, except the lowermost record of said-stack, eccentric'withrsaid shoulder, said head terminating ata point spaced from saidshoulder a distancesomewhat .greater than the thickness of a record, whereby therlowermost'record may be moved laterally off of said. shoulder: to .enable vit vto slide uninterruptedly along said shank towardVv saidI turntable fwhile said head prevents lateral movement of the remaining records ci the stack, and cooperative meansin said Vextension and said head to guide said head fromr a first position eccentric to said 4shoulder to a second position concentric therewith when engaged by. a record moved along said shank into engagement therewith to therebypermit movement of said lowermost record along the entire length of said .spindle for removal thereof from said spindle., and said cooperative means permitting saidhead to yreturn to its position eccentric with saidshoulder after-removal of a record.

13. A turntable spindle for automatic phonographs which comprises. a shank adapted to be mounted in concentric relation with the turntable, said shank having a` .shoulder thereon adapted.. to .engage the lowermost 'record' of-a stack of records, anextension beyond said shoulder having a longitudinal slot therein, a head receiving said extension, said head being substantially hollow whereby said head is movable laterally and longitudinally with respect to said extension, said head being adapted to receive said stack of unplayed records an end one of which may rest against said shoulder when said head is in said lower stationary position, an internal portion oi said head being slidable in said slot, cooperative means in said internal portion and said extension for spacially disposing said head from said shoulder a distance somewhat greater than the thickness of a record whereby said end record may be moved laterally off of said shoulder to enable it to slide along said shank toward said turntable while said head prevents lateral movement of the remaining records of the stack, and said cooperative means permitting said head to be moved to said upper position when engaged by a record moved along said shank into engagement therewith to thereby permit movement of said last named record along the entire length of said spindle for removal thereof from said spindle.

14. A turntable spindle for an automatic phonograph which comprises a shank adapted to be mounted in concentric relation with the turntable, said shank having a shoulder thereon adapted to support a stack of records and normally engage the lowermost record of said stack, an extension beyond said shoulder having a longitudinal slot therein, and a head mounted on said extension and adapted for longitudinal and lateral movement in said slot, said head comprising an internal portion slidable in said slot and including an outer tubular member having a cylindrical outer surface which is presented to the records of said stack at their respective center holes, the outer diameter of said tubular member being of such dimension as to substantially ll'said center holes, cooperative means in said internal portion and said extension permitting said head to normally align and retain a stack of records in a position eccentric to said shoulder, said head terminating at a point spaced from said shoulder a distance somewhat greater than the thickness of a record, whereby said lowermost record may be moved laterally oil of said shoulder to enable it to slide uninterruptedly along said shank toward said turntable while said tubular member of said head prevents lateral movement of the remaining records of the stack.

15. A turntable spindle for an automatic phonograph which comprises a shank adapted to be mounted in concentric relation with the turntable, said shank having a shoulder thereon' adapted to support a stack of records and normally engage the lowermost record of said stack, an extension having a longitudinal slot therein lbeyond said shoulder, and a head mounted on said extension and adapted to normally align and retain a stack of records, except the lowermost record of said stack, eccentric with said shoulder, said head terminating at a point spaced from said shoulder a distance somewhat greater than the thickness of a record, whereby said lowermost record may be moved laterally oi of said shoulder to enable it to slide uninterruptedly along said shank toward said turntable while said head prevents lateral movement of the remaining records of the stack, said head comprising a plate slidably carried in said extension slot, and a sleeve having a cylindrical surface which is presented to the records of said stack at their respective oenter holes carried by said plate.

16. A turntable spindle for an automatic phonograph which comprises a shank adapted to be mounted in concentric relation with the turntable, said shank having a shoulder thereon adapted to engage the lowermost record of a stack of unplayed records, an extension beyond said shoulder having a longitudinal slot therein, a movable head comprising a substantially hollow external portion surrounding said extension and having an internal portion movable longitudinally and laterally in said slot disposed in the said slot oiY said extension to maintain said head in a predetermined position eccentric to said shoulder throughout the automatic playing operation, said external portion of said head being adapted to receive and align said stack of unplayed records, an end one of which may rest against said shoulder between successive lowering movement of said records, and cooperative guide means in said internal portion and said extension to permit controlled movement of said head laterally to and longitudinally along said extension to a position concentric with said shoulder when engaged by a record moved along said shank into engagement therewith to permit movement of said last named record along vthe entire length of said spindle for removal thereof from said spindle.

ALEXANDER D. BURT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,328,052 Butler Aug. 31, 1943 2,355,790 Faulkner Aug. 15, 1944 2,457,106 Pressley Dec. 21, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 70,851 Norway Aug. 12, 1946 

